DroneShield Launches First EU Manufacturing Base, Targets Mid-2026 Deliveries

DroneShield planted its first manufacturing flag outside Australia last week, announcing that production of European-made counter-drone systems is already underway at an undisclosed EU location through a partnership with an established contract manufacturer.

The Australia-based counter-UAS company framed the move as a direct response to shifting procurement priorities across Europe, where militaries, law enforcement agencies, and critical infrastructure operators increasingly demand locally sourced defense technology. CEO Oleg Vornik was direct about the stakes: "Europe is undergoing a profound shift in counter-UAS preparedness. By establishing dedicated manufacturing in the EU, DroneShield is contributing to Europe's sovereign capability while continuing to deliver rapidly and reliably for our European customers. The ReArm Europe Plan / Readiness 2030 initiative has highlighted the importance of localised, scalable production, and this new production line positions us to meet that demand."

The production scope is substantial. The contract manufacturer, whose name has not been disclosed, will handle full turnkey assembly and component manufacturing: printed circuit board assembly, precision machining, cable and wire harness assembly, and final system assembly and testing. DroneShield simultaneously said it has established and will continue to grow a primarily EU-based supply chain to support the line, which the company described as its only production facility currently outside Australia.

The ReArm Europe Plan and its Readiness 2030 companion initiative sit at the center of the strategic rationale. Both have accelerated national military investment across the continent and pushed procurement timelines faster, generating what DroneShield and analysts describe as surging demand for scalable, sovereign counter-drone capability. For European customers, localized production translates concretely into faster deliveries, fewer supply chain disruptions, and systems built to align with regional procurement requirements rather than imported on long lead times from the southern hemisphere.

The capacity ambitions behind the EU move are significant. According to Army Technology reporting, DroneShield plans to expand global manufacturing capacity from roughly $500 million annually in 2025 to an anticipated $2.4 billion by the end of this year, a nearly fivefold increase that makes the EU line a critical pillar rather than a peripheral outpost.

First deliveries from the new EU facility are scheduled for mid-2026. The facility location, the identity of the contract manufacturer, specific product models to be built, and any associated government contracts or procurement awards tied to the new line remain undisclosed.